Science Experiments, Cargo Transfers and Orientation for Station Crew

The six-member Expedition 35 crew living and working aboard the International Space Station were busy with science experiments, cargo transfers and maintenance activities Monday while the three newest crew members participated in a variety of orientation activities.

Commander Chris Hadfield began his work day tearing down and stowing equipment used during the Coarsening in Solid-Liquid Mixtures (CSLM-3) experiment, which studies how crystals known as dendrites form as a metal alloy becomes solid. CSLM-3, which was brought to the orbiting laboratory aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, was conducted for the past several weeks by the station crew and returned back to Earth aboard the Dragon spacecraft last week.

Flight Engineer Tom Marshburn worked with the Energy experiment, which measures the changes in a crew member’s energy balance and total energy expenditure following long term space flight. Knowledge of energy requirements is of great importance to researchers to ensure a crew member’s health and good performance, as well as the overall success of a mission.

Marshburn also removed and replaced a pump assembly that is part of the Urine Processing Assembly, and later took part in a vision test. Flight Engineer Chris Cassidy performed some maintenance work on the Advanced Resistive Exercise Device and Environmental Health System. He also had some time set aside to speak with reporters about his experiences during his first few days aboard the station during an in-flight interview with WGME-TV in Portland, Maine.

Flight Engineer Alexander Misurkin worked with Constant, a Russian experiment that observes the reaction of enzymes in microgravity, and Cascade, which investigates cultivation processes of micro-organism, animal and human cells in microgravity.

Flight Engineer Roman Romanenko transferred equipment and thermal protection jackets over to the station from the docked Soyuz 33 spacecraft.

Flight Engineer Pavel Vinogradov transferred equipment and cargo out of the newly arrived Soyuz 34 spacecraft that brought him, Cassidy and Misurkin to the station last week.

As the newest station residents, Vinogradov, Cassidy and Misurkin also had some time set aside for familiarization and orientation activities to help them get used to their new home aboard the orbiting outpost. All six crew members also participated in a crew conference to review and discuss their emergency roles and responsibilities.